Community Corner

Water Company Shows You How to Save Money

Water company workers show how easy it is to check your toilet to make sure you're not paying higher than expected water bills.

A leaking toilet or dripping faucet can cause water bills to skyrocket, but locating those problems and fixing them aren’t as difficult as homeowners might think.

That was the point Pennsylvania America Water officials were trying to make when they used the historical at  in Collier as an example about how to check for leaks inside your home.

Randy Bergia, who is on PAWC’s leak detection team, demonstrated how simply pouring colored tablets–or even coffee–into the rear of the toilet can show if there’s a leak. If the color finds its way into the bowl, usually the toilet needs a new flapper or seals.

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Bergia said the water company frequently gets calls after a bill comes in that is higher than normal. He said they usually can pinpoint the problem quickly.

“That’s the biggest call we get,” Bergia said of a leaking toilet. “About 99 percent of the time that’s the reason we have a high bill call.”

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If that or a dripping faucet aren’t the problems, crews can look at water lines outside the homes. Bergia tested the two toilets on the property–they are modern and not a part of the house tour–and found no problems inside or outside.

That was a relief to Rob Windhorst, the executive director of Woodville Plantation, who was worried about what the water crew might find Monday morning.

“We were a little more than apprehensive when we were first contacted for this,” Windhorst said. “Any time we do things, one small problem usually leads to bigger problems. So far so good."

PAWC spokeswoman Josephine Posti said a lot of fixes are simple and pointed to sprinkler timers, reduced hose nozzles and moisture meters that can be purchased at local stores.

“A lot of what we see are simple issues and cheap fixes … but make a huge deal on your water bill,” Posti said.

This story was first posted on Chartiers Valley Patch.

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